Rep. Poe: Congress May Authorize Action Against ISIS

The beheading of American journalist James Foley by the Islamic State (ISIS) may be a touchstone for Congress to authorize further military action to eradicate the violent terror group, Rep. Ted Poe said Wednesday on Newsmax TV.

"Congress may be more proactive in its authority in foreign affairs and encouraging the president to specifically go after this terrorist organization called ISIS," Poe, a Texas Republican, said during an appearance on "America's Forum."

"The war on terror is not over. It has just changed to a different group . . . We have an option: do nothing or eliminate them."

A former prosecutor and judge, Poe characterized ISIS as "evil personified . . . a group that cannot be negotiated with, we shouldn't negotiate with them, and they have to be defeated."

"They want to kill anybody that disagrees with them on politics and religion, whether it's Jews, Christians, or even Muslims."

He said he'd like to see President Barack Obama take a stronger stance and "be the world leader. ISIS is expecting the United States will "do nothing," he said.

"They've committed a war crime against humanity or the world," Poe said. "There has to be consequences for their reckless murder of other people. Be proactive, Mr. President, be very strong."

Among Poe's recommendations: continue airstrikes and help arm the Kurds and others fighting ISIS.

Poe said it appears that Mexican drug cartels and ISIS are at least talking to each other.

"The drug cartels use the same operational plan as terrorist groups do," he said. "They kill their opponents, they behead their opponents, they brag about it, and they have operational control of many portions of the southern border of the United States. They're vicious as some of these other terrorist organizations."

The beheading of American journalist James Foley by the Islamic State, also known as ISIS, may be a touchstone for Congress to authorize further military action to eradicate the violent terror group, Rep. Ted Poe, a Texas Republican, said Wednesday on Newsmax TV.